CHRISTMAS & THE NEW YEAR
Here we are with only 16 days before our “final “move into the house at San Carlos and the end of us having to live out of boxes in this apartment, in the ghost town that is otherwise known as Playa den Bossa. Our furniture is, as you have already heard, in one bedroom and our boxes of personal effects etc. in the remaining bedroom. I had a folding moment this week, folding all my T Shirts (ready for summer wearing) and my plain coloured more formal shirts that I am unlikely to wear in the near future. While doing the folding the thought crossed my mind, “what about my suits”? - I will have to wait and see. I think Val is looking forward to spreading her wardrobe around a bit and starting to wear something other than jeans in a cleaner area. It is so dusty here and despite our extensive sweeping and vacuuming there is always a pile of dust to find at the end of each day. The new house is not near a building site, or a beach, so the dust should be less, I hope!
We had a pleasant Christmas with dinner at Alix’s on Christmas Eve (as is the practice here) that saw us drinking and eating a little bit more than we intended, but it was Christmas after all. Franco cooked two HUGE steaks on a Bar-B-Q on their terrace, chicken for the other guests and fish for Val. We staggered home sometime around two in the morning feeling decidedly full.
Christmas day was spent at some friends who live in a lovely house near the island’s prison. Clearly this is a benefit here given the degree of security in the area that discourages any opportunistic thieves that may be lurking around. The meal was again really good with us spending a pleasant afternoon sitting in the sun and soaking up the winter sunshine. However, once the afternoon moved on it soon got quite chilly but still at least 10 degrees higher than in the UK (we hope!!)
New Year was a quiet affair with us opening a bottle of cava and seeing in the midnight hour with great restraint and a distinct lack of any desire to make any new year’s resolutions. We are sticking to the life plan we have always had …. Learn Spanish, eat less and lose weight!
TELEVISION
Here I was sitting having my leisurely breakfast of good old Scottish porridge oats (low GI and keeps us going until lunch time) watching my least favourite TV programme, GMTV when I was presented with the latest “King of the jungle” – Christopher Biggins.
I have only one question to ask: - “What is funny about Christopher Biggins”?
I am pleased to report that my “Victor Meldrew moments” are not in the least diminished and I am currently planning to prepare a list of “hates” for publication here sometime later in the year. We also watched a programme about “Only Fools & Horses” where the subject of Trigger’s broom came up and I recalled a friend at work once commented that I was rather like Trig, in that I was applying the same logic as Trig had about his broom regarding the repair of my shoes. PS, you know who you are!
REMEMBRANCE DAY 2007
I know it’s a little after the fact now but I am pleased to report that even here in sunny and some may say, decadent Ibiza, there is a small but active British community that actually supports the British Legion, and celebrates Remembrance Sunday in a formal manner.
I read in a monthly Ibiza magazine called “Ibiza NOW” or Ibiza HEUTE” (depending on your national origins!) for we “extranjeros” here on the island, an interesting article about a Remembrance Sunday service that was held in Santa Eulalia, a nice costal town here.
A small group of the British community attended a service held at the English speaking church (which is housed in the town’s Catholic Church), which was apparently well attended, with the usual readings being delivered by an elderly gentleman and former Royal Marine veteran. We have been in touch and I have let him have some information on the current state of play at his former barracks (where we used to live in Portsmouth!).
FOOD
It is also with much pleasure to note that when we had an urge to find some British food (Branston pickle, Marmite and Golden syrup to name but three) we went to one of the two “English Supermarkets” here. Both are rather small corner shops really but are stocked to the roof with things you just can’t get here in the main supermarkets.
Must go now….. wishing you all a very happy and prosperous new year 2008
4 comments:
Dealighted to have Google send me detals of your Blog entry. I was British Legion District Secretary for Spain North for 12 years and involved in setting-up the RBL Branches in Menorca and Mallorca. I have also worked alonside the Anglican Chaplaincy on Ibiza, and officiated at a wedding last April in Santa Eulalia. Ann and I are overdue a return visit to Ibiza and would like to encourage an RBL Branch there. We have lived in Javea (Costa Blanca) for 22 years, andare currently involved with the Grapevine magazine. Would be good to keep in contact. We wish you well.
Clive (still trying to learn Spanish, take more eercise, and lose weight).
Glad to hear you are still enjoying life in Ibiza despite the trials and tribulations. I hope 2008 sees you permanently settled.
Louise
Biggins is w00t You are just jealous coz he is making the $$$$
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